Hamas makes strong showing in Palestinian local elections

[Gloria]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2004/December/middleeast_December675.xml§ion=middleeast


Hamas makes strong showing in Palestinian local elections
(AP)

25 December 2004


NABLUS, West Bank - The radical Hamas movement made a surprisingly strong showing in local Palestinian elections, according to preliminary results, signaling a drop in popularity for the ruling Fatah movement ahead of next month’s presidential poll.

Elections for local councils were held Thursday in 26 communities perceived as Fatah strongholds, with some 150,000 eligible voters choosing from among more than 800 candidates. Sixteen percent of the 360 local council seats were reserved for women.

According to preliminary results obtained Friday by The Associated Press, Fatah won a majority of council seats in 14 towns, while Hamas, participating for the first time in Palestinian elections, took control in nine communities.

(snip)

“This is an outstanding result for Hamas,” said Palestinian analyst, Ali Jerbawi, a former head of the Palestinian Election Commission. “The 26 localities were selected from the beginning (as) strongholds of Fatah. So the results should have been more for Fatah than Hamas.”

Hamas has been at the forefront of anti-Israeli violence, carrying out suicide bombings and other attacks, even as it has emerged as the strongest political challenger to Fatah, the PLO faction led by the late Yasser Arafat.

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[wellst0nev0ter]

1. Hmm, Wonder If Israel/US Will Pull Another Algeria

[The Magistrate]

2. In Other Words, Ma'am

Hamas took under forty percent in locales where it was expected they would do poorly....

[xerenthar]

3. Hamas = terrorist scum.

End of story.

[Forever Free]

4. I totally agree

Hamas, Al-Qaeda, Islamic Jihad, Abu Sayef, they're all the same. Terrorists that need to be brought to justice.

[xerenthar]

6. The PLO to some extent as well, hopefully this will change.

[imenja]

5. What did the Israelis expect when they refused to speak with Arafat?

It seems entirely predicable to me.